Alexey Petrovich Maresyev (May 7 (20), 1916, Kamyshin, Saratov Province, Russian Empire — May 18, 2001, Moscow, Russia) was a Soviet military fighter pilot. Hero of the Soviet Union (08/24/1943). The Colonel (1978). Candidate of Historical Sciences (1956).
During the Great Patriotic War, both of his feet were amputated, but despite this, he returned to service. During the war, he flew 86 combat missions and shot down 10 enemy aircraft: three before being wounded and seven after.
He is the prototype of the main character of Boris Polevoy’s book “The Tale of a Real Man” by Alexei Meresyev.
